May 28, 2025

Alice Draper Talks About Rejection, Resilience, and Podcast Pitching

My next book, Productiveness, arrives this September. It's about the difference between doing more and doing what matters, and how we lost the ability to tell them apart. I'll send the release date the day it's set. Visit https://mikevardy.com/productiveness to learn more.What if rejection wasn’t something to fear—but a skill to build? In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I chat with Alice Draper, founder of Hustling Writers and host of My Rejection Story. Alice has helped clients land interviews on hundreds of top podcasts and is on a mission to demystify the power of rejection, especially for creatives and entrepreneurs.We explore what it means to navigate self-rejection, build visibility in an increasingly noisy world, and pitch yourself without compromising your voice. As someone who’s been on both sides of the podcast pitch, Alice shares refreshing insights that go beyond the usual tips and templates.Six Discussion PointsHow Alice went from freelance journalist to podcast publicity expert (accidentally)Why self-rejection is the most insidious form of rejection—and how to combat itThe link between imposter syndrome and visibility for marginalized voicesJournaling as a path to resilience, awareness, and actionHow community can be your greatest hack for rejection resistanceWhat makes a strong podcast pitch—and why vulnerability is essentialThree Connection PointsHustling WritersListen to My Rejection StoryCheck out Alice's appearance on This Changes EverythingThis conversation reminded me that rejection isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a signal that you’re putting yourself out there. Alice’s perspective on vulnerability, rejection, and authentic outreach is something I think more creators and professionals need to hear, especially in an era obsessed with shortcuts and surface-level connection.Your inbox is a receiving dock, not a warehouse. Three moves, seconds a message, and only what needs you today is left standing. That's the promise of The 10 Second Inbox. Get it at https://mikevardy.com/10secondinbox today.

Also available on Apple Podcasts ↗